Ball-joint for lamp-supports and the like.



T. FINIZIQ. BAA' JOINTl FOR LAMP SUPPORTS AND THE LIKEIv APP L|CATION FILED MAYO| 19,15

affayfey Patent-ed Jan. 4, 1916.

U TE STS INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION THOMAS D. FINIZIO, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO KURZ ELECTRICAL COMPANY,

or NEW YORK.

BALL-JOINT FOR LAMP-SUPPORTS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented J an. 4,1916.

Application filed May 10, 1915. ,Serial No. 27,2%.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. FiNlzio, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at New York city, Bronx county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Joints for Lamp- Supports and the like, ofA which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to ball or universal joints for lamp-supports and the like, the object of the invention being to provide a ball or universal joint or connection between the base portion and lamp-socket portion of electric-light fixtures arranged to permit the lamp to be moved or adjusted and to be held in an adjusted position without the use of binding screws or other locking devices.

The improvement is adaptable, of course, to other articles than lamps.

My improved ball-joint is arranged so that it will remain in an adjusted' position when once set, a pressure exerting device being employed to at all times, force themembers of the ball-joint together.

Iwill now proceed to describe my invention in detail, the essential features of which will be summarized in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof; wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of an electriclamp fixture having my improvement ap* plied thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, the section being taken on a line 2 2 in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, the section being taken on a line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

As herein illustrated, my improvedball or universal connection is applied to an ordinary lamp xture base 1 having a tubular` neck portion 2, to the outer end of which my improved joint is applied.

My improved joint consists of a tubular member or sleeve 3 rotatably secured to the neck 2. The tubular member or sleeve 3 is provided with a rounded closed outer end 4L provided with a slot 5 to permit the radial vmovement ofa tubular bushing (3 surrounded by a spring 7, one end of which bears against a washer S, the other end hearing against a lamp-socket 9 or other snjvporting means. The bushing (5 is carried by a spherical carrier or ball 1C having an opening let for the insertion of said buil ing, the carrie'r being prcferabl y made out ol.' insulating material, such as wood, rubber or the like.

a larly adjusted,

flhe outer end of the owzhing 6 is screwed into the socket 9 as shown. "lhe tension of the spring 7 forces the socket 9 and bushing G outwardly, and consequently the carrier or ball 10 is forced into frictional contact with the inner surface of the rounded end 4f of the rotary sleeve 3. The spring 7 also forces the washer 8 in contact with the exterior surface of the rounded end of the tubular or rotary sleeve 3; and hence there will also be suflicient pressure exerted to cause the socket 9 and 'connected parts (the bushing 6 andV carrier or ball 10) to remain in adjusted positions, there being no manually operable binding elements employed.

It is evident that the ball-joint 4described permits the lamp (not shown) to be anguradial adjustment being yolotamed by rotating the tubular member or sleeve 3. The member or sleeve 3 is held in position by a concaved annular beading 11 which is spun into a recess 12 in the neck 2. The sleeve 3 and neck iit snug enough to require slight pressure to rotate it. wires for the lamp are of Course threaded through the channel 13, when the device is used for a lamp, or if used for a fan or telephone-bracket, the wire for same will also be threaded through the said channel.

With my improved ball-joint, I ain ,able to obtain angular adjustments of the connected member to the extent of at least 45 deofrees relative to the axis of the bracket.

IIaving now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with a tubular neckmember, a rotatable sleeve carried`\by said neck, at its outer end, said sleeve extending, for the greater party of its length, over" the end of said neck, ,'an angularly adjustable bushing located iny said sleeve, pressure exerting device arranged to hold said bushing in an adjusted position, and a lamp4 socket or other supporting means carried by said bushing at its free end. y 2. In combination with a tubular neckmember, a rotatable sleeve carried lby said neck, at its outer end, said sleeve being rounded at its free end, a ball located within the rounded end of said sleeve, a bushing carried by said ball, said sleeve, at its rounded end being provided with a slot to permit of the angular adjustment o f said bushing, i lamp socket or the like carried hy said bush- The i ing et its outer end, and means carried by seid bushing and located between the lamp socket and rounded end of said sleeve to 'loice ball firmly linto Contact with the rounded end of seid Sleeve.

3. ln combination with e tubular neckmember, :i rotatable sleeve Carried by seid neck, at its outer end, said sleeve being rounded at its 'free end, e bell located within tbe rounded end of said sleeve, e bush;

ing eerbied by -Sziid ball, said sleeve, :it its @sounded end being provided with a slot to permit of tbe angulai1 adjustment of said bushing, :L lamp Socket or the like carried by said bushing :mits outer end, and e spi-ing eeiied by said bushing and located between tbe lamp-socket and rounded end. of said sleeve to force said bell firmly into contact' with the rounded end of said sleeve.

4. lin combination with e tubulin? neckmember, ioteteble sleeve carried byseid neck, its outer end, seid sleeve being 'rounded at its free end, e ball loeeted witby in the foundedA end of seid sleeve, e busbing eeiied by .sind bell, seid sleeve, at

rounded end being provided with. e Slot to ineeee permit of the bushing, @lomp by said bushing carried by seid bushing contacting' Witb the outei surface of the rounded end of Said sleeve, and :L spring carried by Seid sleeve und bearing against seid Washer at one end thereof und against tbe lumi) socket the other end thereof. l

In combination with a tubular neel@ member, n rotatable sleeve located on 'tbe outer surface and :it tbe outer end of Seid neok-n'iember, seid Sleeve being mounted 'foi' rotation only, :L eztiiiei' oi insulating; meteiinl mounted foi' rotation Within seid sleeve, u, 'tubular bushing; eei'iied by said Garnier, seid bushing being; out of Contact with Sain sleeve, end e lmnp socket of other Suppoifb ing menne ofi-Tried by Said bushing at ite ficee end. v

Signed et New VYoi'l city, lil., Y., this 'tii day of May, lll 4 THOMAS D. FllliZll@ l/Vitnesses t f EDWARD A, Lani/ie, linneion BLOCK. 

